Fantasy Shots: Week Four In The 2010 WPS Season
The 2010 Women's Professional Soccer season is on a roll and continues to be thrilling!
With unexpected wins and tough losses, the league's eight teams continue to fight to the final whistle.
The Philadelphia Independence continues to be unbeaten after a 1-0 win over the Atlanta Beat, thanks to a goal by WPS Player of the Month, Lori Lindsey.
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Washington Freedom picked up a huge 3-1 victory over the St. Louis Athletica, thanks to an excellent performance by midfielder Sonia Bompastor.
Canadian international Christine Sinclair scored FC Gold Pride's lone goal in their 1-0 win over Sky Blue FC, and helped her team rise to first place in the league thus far.
Due for their first "W", Chicago Red Stars earned a crucial 2-0 victory over the Boston Breakers.
Top Four Point Leaders For Each Position
Goalkeepers: Karen Bardsley (Sky Blue, 101 points,) Hope Solo (St. Louis, 61 points,) Nicole Barnhart (FC Gold Pride, 58 points,) Jillian Loyden (Chicago, 50 points.)
Defenders: Allison Falk (Philadelphia, 78 points,) Carrie Dew (Gold Pride, 58 points,) Ali Riley (Gold Pride, 21 points,) Meghan Schnur (Sky Blue, 20 points.)
Midfielders: Lori Lindsay (Philadelphia, 69 points,) Homare Sawa (Washington, 60 points,) Lori Chalupny (St. Louis, 35 points,) Kristine Lilly (Boston, 32 points.)
Forwards: Christine Sinclair (Gold Pride, 47 points,) Abby Wambach (Washington, 47 points,) Eniola Aluko (St. Louis, 40 points,) Tasha Kai (Sky Blue, 36 points.)
Despite the loss to FC Gold Pride, Bardsley continues to be on top of the point charts for the goalkeepers.
New this week are Barnhart and Loyden. Ali Riley is the lone newcomer to the defensive line, while Lori Chalupny ends up top four for the midfielders. Eniola Aluko makes an appearance for the forwards after a goal against Washington.
Game Results from Week Four
Lauren's Week Four Team (*Denotes captain)
Formation: 3-4-3
Points Earned: 124
Goalkeeper: K. LeBlanc (PHI, 0 pts)
Defenders: S. Cox (BOS, -two points,) T. Ellertson (STL, -three points,) A. Falk (PHI, 25 points.)
Midfielders: L. Lindsey (PHI, 27 points,) K. Lilly (BOS, two points,) L. Chalupny (STL, 16 points,) H. Sawa (WAS, 29 points.)
Forwards: A. Wambach (WAS, 11 points,) K. Smith (BOS, one point,) C. Sinclair (FCGP, 18 points.)
Imagine my disappointment when I learned that LeBlanc was not in goal for the Philadelphia-Atlanta game. Val Henderson played, earning herself 32 points with a shutout and win.
However, my week was extremely successful besides that hiccup. I am now ranked 27th in the Challenge—moving steadily towards top 10!
My instincts when it came to winning teams was wrong on the parts of Boston and St. Louis, both who were defeated by two goal margins.
Falk, who I believe was underrepresented in the WPS Player of the Month voting, had another stellar game, with an assist and a win against Atlanta capping her points to 25.
Lori Lindsey continues to serve Philadelphia well. Her match-winning goal against Atlanta boosted her points this week.
Homare Sawa also had a match-winner, as well as two shots on goal.
Chalupny had an assist in St. Louis's lone goal against Washington, while Lilly had a shot on goal.
Sinclair's game-winning goal against Sky Blue, combined with her three shots on goal raised her to be the highest point forward in week four.
Abby Wambach continues to struggle finding the back of the net, but served up two assists in Washington's victory, gaining her 11 points.
Picks for Week Five (*denotes captain)
Formation: 3-4-3. I'm comfortable with it, and it seems to gain the most points for me.
Goalkeeper: K. Bardsley* (SBFC)
I'll take a chance on her! Atlanta will be playing at home, which might be a factor in this game, but without the presence of injured Tobin Heath, Atlanta's offense will be lacking.
WATCH LIST: Jillian Loyden (CHI)
With a match against FC Gold Pride, Loyden and the Red Stars could post another much-needed win this weekend. Loyden will likely see a carload of shots with Gold Pride's dangerous offense.
Defenders: A. Falk (PHI), C. Dew (FCGP), B. Taylor (SBFC)
Falk has served me well the last couple weeks. It appears Philadelphia is heating up their offense, which seemed to struggle early in the season. Falk will get action against St. Louis's dangerous midfield.
Dew and Taylor have both climbed into the top four lists at least once, and each have games this weekend (Dew against Chicago, Taylor against Atlanta) that could see their points explode.
WATCH LIST: A. Riley (FCGP), C. Whitehill (WAS)
As the season continues, my choices seem to be staying the same, thanks to great performances by all. Riley and Dew will be crucial in holding back a Chicago front line that is anxious for goals.
Whitehill and the Washington Freedom look to continue to win against Boston, and it will be Whitehill's back line that will preserve a win against a talented Boston front line.
Midfielders: L. Lindsey (PHI), H. Sawa (WAS), K. Lilly (BOS), L. Chalupny (STL)
Lindsay will have her work cut out for her against a solid Athletica midfield. But her world-class play making and eye for the goal (one goal, four assists in four games) may help against St. Louis.
Sawa has been involved with most of the Freedom's scoring (two game-winners and five shots on goals in four games,) and against a strong Boston team, she will be needed.
Chalupny and Lilly are both solid performers in their team's midfielders, and that solidity will be important this weekend.
WATCH LIST: S. Bompastor (WAS), S. Boxx (STL), A. Long (WAS)
Bompastor appears to be hitting her stride, with a goal and an assist last week. Her chemistry with her teammates is picking up, and could be the determining factor against Boston.
Boxx also has been solid in the midfield. Watch for her yellow cards (she has two in the season already,) but also watch out for those assists she serves.
Allie Long also is continuing to put shots on goal and is a continuing threat for the Freedom.
Forwards: A. Wambach (WAS), C. Sinclair (FCGP), T. Kai (SBFC)
Wambach will hopefully get her shots on goals connected in the next couple of weeks. Once she hits her stride, she's almost unstoppable.
Sinclair has shown that she can score goals (three scored in three games, with two game-winners.) Her seven shots on goal lead the league.
Tasha Kai (two goals in three games with six shots on goal) will likely be the goal scorer for Sky Blue against a struggling Atlanta side, provided her midfielders lay out good passes for her.
WATCH LIST: E. Aluko (STL), K. Smith (BOS), C. Nogueira (CHI)
Aluko continues to be in the right place at the right time for St. Louis. Against Lori Lindsey and the Philadelphia defense, Aluko may be able to break through.
Smith has two goals in four games, and has continued to take shots on goals. She is dangerous, and can't be counted out of next week against a Washington defense that has trouble holding a shutout.
Nogueira has yet to make a lot of noise in her rookie season, but she has two goals on the season, and could be a deciding factor against FC Gold Pride.
Update 4/4/10: Sawa will have duty with the Japanese National Team for the next couple of weeks...choose her at your own risk!
Meghan Schnur, who I originally put in the back for week 5, is out with a knee injury, and will likely not be back for this weekend's competition.
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